CHAINSAW THREAT LOOMS FOR HUMBERSTON'S EXTREMELY RARE BLACK POPLAR TREES

The trees - and Abey's - in all their summer glory

BRANCHES on 15 rare black poplar trees may be lopped following claims their branch canopy is encroaching over the showroom roof of the Abey Furnishing Company on Humberston's Wilton Road trading estate. 

The black poplar, which favours boggy conditions, near ditches, is Britain's scarcest timber species and now lost to most counties.

The ones in Humberston are even more magnificent than those depicted in John Constable's famous Suffolk-located painting, The Haywain.

According to legend, the trees' red male catkins are Devil's fingers and bring bad luck if picked up after they have fallen.

Time was when its wood, which is springy and resistant to shock, was used in the manufacture of  cartwheels - probably those on the haywain itself.  

It was also often used for floorboards, especially in the days of paraffin lamps because of its natural fire resistance

According to the Woodland Trust,  hybrid black poplar timber is still used to make artificial limbs, wine cases, pallets, shelving, bowls and toys.

It is a  food plant for the caterpillars of many moths, including the hornet, wood leopard, poplar hawk and figure of eight. The catkins provide an early source of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects, and the seeds are eaten by birds.

The lopping proposal by  David Carroll  of Abey is currently under consideration by North East Lincolnshire Council planners.

They are currently awaiting the comments of  council trees officer Paul Chaplin who, it is understood, has inspected the trees, which are covered by a preservation order.

If his application granted, who better than the head of a furniture company to make use of the timber?  

Even in winter, the trees are endowed with majesty and mystery

One of the most famous paintings in Britain - The Haywain by John Constable

The Grimsby News says: Does this work really need to be done? As of now, any 'canopy encroachment' seems to be so miniscule as to be non-existent. The trees make a magnificent boundary to the trading estate and a handsome backdrop to the furniture showroom. Given that black poplars are vanishingly scarce trees, utmost sensitivity is required.